Black-lit White-tailed Eagle with catch

[Gerald Kelberg]

Lots of lurking, but a long time since I posted, so I hope you like this new image.

I was lucky enough to spend a few days in Norway earlier this year - photographing White-Tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albacilla) in the fiords north of Trondheim.

This adult bird took the bait in a shaded area where the sun was coming over the hill and providing a backlight on the bird and a dark background.

PP in DPP then to PS4 to adjust shadows & highlights with some manipulation to soften highlights on the back of the left wing. Light touch of NR and Sharpen.

Canon 1D MkIV - EF 200-400 @ 334mm, Hand held; 1/2000 @f6.3, ISO 400.

Comments and suggestions appreciated.

Thanks, Gerald

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Fantastic action shot! If I change anything I'd lighten up the facial area some (up to the shoulders) and reign in the highlights in the splashing water. But nice, regardless!

[Randy Stout]

Gerald:

Always fun to see non conventional shots.

Great action, flared wing tips, splash, fish.

For me however, the brightness of the splash dominates the image so much that I have trouble appreciating the bird, and it makes the bird appear darker than it really is.

Randy

[Andreas Liedmann]

Ho ho Gerald you found the time to post , great .

I like the action you captured nicely , good control of the BL . I like the overall and tones with good detail for that kind of situation .
But i have to agree the whitish splash around the talons and the fish is just too dominant in the image. Sorry to say that .

Keep them coming.

TFS Andreas

[Andreas Liedmann]

Gerald just tried a quick , but complex edit with an action use , just to give you an idea . showing only the direction

Cheers Andreas

[Gerald Kelberg]

Thanks Tobie and Randy for your comments and guidance. Andreas, very good of you to take the time to work and post on my image. I really like what you have done with the splash - now I'll have to work out how to get there!

Cheers, Gerald